Locks (YT) Archives - Homekit News and Reviews

ThorBolt Smart Latch Lock w/ Thread (video)

The Editor — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:07:17 +0000

If you have a garage door leading to your home, a home office that you want to secure, or have an Airbnb property with a room that only you can access, the Thorbolt MK1 may be ideal for you, as long as you’re an Apple Home user. The MK1 uses HomeKit over Thread, not Bluetooth, so you’ll get fast and consistent reaction times.

Aside from the on-device keypad, there’s also a blazing fast fingerprint reader. Both the keypad and sensor can store up to 100 passcodes/prints, all stored locally.

You can purchase the Thorbolt MK1 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) link below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

Amazon US

****GIVEAWAY**** For the giveaway, you have a chance to win one of the two locks shown in the video. All you need to do is give the video a ‘thumbs up’, post a comment saying where you’re likely to use the lock, and what country you live in. I will contact the randomly chosen winners directly after approximately 2 weeks from the posting of this video. Be aware that if you are a winner, even though I will ship the lock to you free of charge, you will be responsible for any import duties or taxes.

The post ThorBolt Smart Latch Lock w/ Thread (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (video)

The Editor — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 07:00:37 +0000

Aqara’s first retrofit smart lock for both US and European users is here, and it’s probably going to spell disaster for brands like Nuki, SwitchBot, and August, due to the U200 offering Apple HomeKey via the keypad, which none of the others have yet to achieve. Like all Aqara locks, there are tons of options, so watch the video to see them all in action.

Check out Andy C’s Channel, and his look at the U200 for European users: https://youtu.be/CEfYUkpav5M?si=lMtF-gPPwwdlRyp3

You can purchase the Aqara Smart Lock U200 from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform. Make sure to use the following limited time discount codes for your region;

20% off (July 9-13) 20LFY6XT
20% off Code (July 9-13) U200EU20

The post The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Aqara Smart Lock U50 (video)

The Editor — Thu, 23 May 2024 13:10:28 +0000

Around a year after the debut of Aqara’s first deadbolt lock, the company has launched a more budget-conscious option that does away with the fingerprint sensor, but retains the very popular Apple HomeKey option. Watch to see my thoughts on this new lock, and how it differs from the U100.

You can purchase the Aqara U50 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform. The U50 from is available for US$149.99, but with a special time-limited 20% OFF discount, using the following code – USCAU50P.

Amazon US

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Switchbot Lock Pro (video)

The Editor — Sun, 19 May 2024 12:49:10 +0000

Switchbot is a popular brand, and with the Pro version of their smart lock, they’ve improved the design substantially, but is it enough without Apple HomeKey? Watch to find out our thoughts.

You can purchase the Switchbot Lock Pro from Amazon stores in your region using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

The post Switchbot Lock Pro (video) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Holomarq Sequra HK2 Smart Doorknob Lock w/ Thread (video)

The Editor — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:36:43 +0000

The Sequra HK1 Smart Latch lock (or Door Knob) from Holomarq, is the first of its kind to use Thread, and in so doing places itself in pretty much a class of its own. The doorknob features a keypad built into the handle and is ideal for doors that use a latch lock, like doors leading from a garage to the main house, or for a home gym or office, where you might want to keep kids from accessing.

Whilst there’s no HomeKey integration, the Thread connection is faster and more responsive than Bluetooth, and with deeper Apple Home integration with the use of the ‘Manage Access’ feature, you can even create, delete or otherwise manage passcodes directly within the Home app.

You can get 10% off the list price using the exclusive code – HKHM10PC – when you purchase the lock from Amazon.com, applying the code at checkout. This code will be valid from July 3rd until October 3rd – EXCEPT during Amazon Prime (11-12th July).

You can purchase the Sequra HK1 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) links below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

Amazon.com (Matte Black)
Amazon.com (Metallic Gold)

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Aqara Smart Deadbolt Lock U100

The Editor — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 11:34:50 +0000

the Aqara U100 is the company’s first attempt at a deadbolt smart lock, and it did well, with a lock that has more features than pretty much any of its competitors, all for roughly two-thirds of the price. Not only that, it should be Matter compatible, although, in my initial tests, I couldn’t get it to be exposed to Samsung SmartThings via my Matter-compatible Aqara M2 hub. Amazon is yet to support Matter hubs at the time of writing, so only Google and Apple Home should work.

Still, with Apple Home Key, a fingerprint reader, keypad, NFC cards, app control, and basic keys, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the various unlock methods available, as well as a great range of automations within the Aqara ecosystem.

You can purchase the Aqara U100 from Amazon.com using the (affiliate) link below, which cost you nothing extra but help us buy more products for review, to keep you informed on how products perform.

The post Aqara Smart Deadbolt Lock U100 appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

ZemiSmart Zigbee Smart Lock

The Editor — Wed, 11 May 2022 09:05:21 +0000

ZemiSmart continues its plan to add more of its Zigbee products to HomeKit via the ZemiSmart Hub, and on this occasion, we’re looking at the Zigbee version of their smart lock that – unlike most smart locks in HomeKit – dispenses with Bluetooth and solely utilises Zigbee.

This Mortice lock comes with a fingerprint sensor built into the handle, a keypad (that also has a built-in doorbell function), and also comes with standard keys and IC keycards. It even features ‘Passage’ mode, which allows the lock to stay in the unlocked state.

The two things that let the product down for many is that it has no waterproofing at all, so it’s only of use if it’s protected by some form of roof or porch. The features in the app also need a bit of attention, as there are a couple of quite large bugs in there.

I should state that I had to test the lock using a demo door, as it wouldn’t fit my front door well enough for the purposes of demonstrating the features.

UK users can buy the lock and hub together on Amazon.co.uk (affiliate link).

The post ZemiSmart Zigbee Smart Lock appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Aqara A100 Zigbee Smart Lock with Apple HomeKey

The Editor — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 03:18:01 +0000

The Aqara A100 Zigbee is the company’s flagship smart lock available outside of China, which is part of a lineup of three locks in the A100 series; The A100, the A100 Pro, and this, the A100 Zigbee.

The A100 Zigbee features multiple methods by which you can unlock the door, which includes;

A fingerprint sensor
A keypad for passcodes
Apple HomeKey (NFC+)
Aqara NFC cards
Emergency keys

There’s also an option to power up the lock using a power bank via the USB-C port if the batteries unexpectedly die. Apple HomeKey also allows you to still unlock the door, even if your iPhone’s battery has died (Express mode only).

The Lock doesn’t require an Aqara hub for HomeKit functionality, or for some basic features even via the Aqara app, although with a Hub you get access to many more features, including automation integration.

In this video, I go through nearly all the features of the lock, including HomeKit integration and using Apple HomeKey, as well a ton of extras via the Aqara app.

Full disclosure: Aqara provided the lock and fitting free of charge, but no monetary compensation or sponsorship was offered. These facts are not in any way influenced by the opinions voiced in this video, and Aqara will not have seen this video or my feelings on this product before publication.

The Aqara A100 Zigbee is currently only available in some parts of Asia as well as Russia, but Aqara are planning to expand availability to other regions later in the year.

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The Schlage Sense – still worth buying in 2021?

Eric - Modern Day Tech — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 02:06:18 +0000

Eric (Modern Day Tech): The Schlage Sense came out in 2015 and it’s still on the market today. Let’s take a look at it to see if it’s still worthing buying in 2021 for your HomeKit Smart Home –

https://geni.us/SchlageSense ( affiliate link)

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Level Touch Smart Lock

Rey G — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 04:23:34 +0000

I have installed and reviewed quite a few HomeKit compatible smart locks on my channel and the Level Touch seemingly has everything! Security, ease of access, NFC enabled, and capacitive touch.

In this video, I’ll install the Level Touch, enable HomeKit and take an in-depth look at what separates this smart lock from the rest of the pack!

Level Touch: https://amzn.to/3r5m2Tm

Level Bolt: https://amzn.to/3uE8ekL

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